4 things you need to consider before you hire a skip

Whether you’re bringing your bathroom back to the 21st century or finally tackling the mess in your storage cupboards, you’ll need a way to dispose of your waste.

Your council-provided bin won’t cut it, but what other alternatives are available?

Skip hire in Bolton is one of the most convenient, cost-effective ways to get rid of your rubbish – but whether you’re a seasoned skip-hire pro or it’s your first time, there are a couple of things you need to know before you go ahead.

1.  What size skip you need

Believe it or not, skip size matters.

If you don’t get it right the first time, you’ll end up either:

1. Having to pay extra for a second skip, or
2. Paying over the odds for extra space in your skip that you’ve not used.

Admittedly, it’s better to have more space and not need it than having to hire a second skip because you ran out of space – but hiring the right size will help you avoid both of these issues from the get-go.

Typical skip sizes in Bolton include:

• 2-yard mini – equivalent to 20-30 bin bags or 4 wheelie bins full of rubbish
• 4-yard midi – equivalent to 30-40 bin bags or 8 wheelie bins full of rubbish
• 8-yard maxi – equivalent to 60-80 bin bags or 16 wheelie bins full of rubbish

2.  Where you’ll leave your skip

In the garden, in the driveway, on the path outside – they’re all the same right?

Absolutely not!

Where you leave your skip, be it in your garden or on the pavement or road outside your house, will determine whether or not you need a skip hire permit.

Let’s say, for example, that you don’t have enough space in your garden or driveway, and you need to leave the skip on the road or path. AKA a public highway.

These areas, along with others, are all owned by local councils, so you’ll need their permission to leave a skip there. Of course, this won’t be an issue if you can leave your skip on your own private property.

3.  The type of waste you’re throwing away

Before hiring a skip, consider the type of waste you’re throwing away.

Most household projects, be it cupboard clear-outs or bedroom makeovers, don’t tend to generate hazardous waste, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be aware of what can and cannot go inside your hired skip.

Some prohibited items include:

• Electrical equipment – this includes everything from fridge freezers to televisions.
• Gas cylinders
• Asbestos
• Batteries
• Solvents, fuel, paint and other liquids
• Medical, biological and laboratory waste
• Plasterboard
• Mattresses
• Glass

If you have any items you’re unsure of, be sure to give your chosen skip hire firm a call. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

4.  How long you need your skip for

Most skip hire companies hire their containers for three weeks at a time at a fixed price, but for an additional fee, will more than likely extend this period if necessary.

This doesn’t mean you have to keep the container for this amount of time – as soon as you’re done with it, be it within a day, or a week, give your skip hire company a call, and they’ll come to collect it as soon as they can.

Ready to hire a skip in Bolton?

If you have any further questions or would like to book a skip, get in touch with the team over at Lostock Skip Hire.

Based in Bolton, they extend their skip hire services to Chorley, Leyland, Wigan and beyond, and would be more than happy to help with all of your waste disposal needs!